Podcasts about Talent management

How do you lead well in a world transformed by AI? This week, Do Good to Lead Well tackles this question head-on, as I speak with Mike Sullivan, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of OneDigital, and the co-author of the timely and insightful book, Workforce Intelligence. Throughout our conversation, Mike breaks through both the hype and the fear surrounding AI in today's workforce. As a champion of people-centered AI, he offers an inspiring roadmap for activating, not replacing, the human workforce.Listeners are invited into the story of “Ben,” a digital coworker, and how Mike and his team treat AI onboarding like hiring a real employee: with transparency, development, and high expectations. The result? A culture where humans and digital agents collaborate, learn, and continuously improve together. We also discuss how workforce intelligence is being redefined and how high-performing teams are built not on software alone, but on empathy, transparency, and courage.For leaders and organizations seeking practical strategies, this episode brims with actionable advice, from measuring workforce intelligence to ensuring HR has a seat at the AI table. It's a compelling argument for seeing the faces behind the headcount, and for cultivating trust as the cornerstone of 21st-century leadership.What You'll Learn- Start with honesty, not hype when it comes to AI.- Don't treat AI as ‘software': Treat it like a coworker.- Transparent roles & faces build trust.- What is your Workforce Intelligence (WI) score? The success metric.- Activation moments matter.- Top-down Is the only way forward.- People Always Come First.- It's not either/or. It's Human Intelligence (HI) + Artificial Intelligence (AI). Podcast Timestamps(00:00) – Personal Fear and the Human Side of AI(06:02) – No Code? No Problem – Mike's Personal AI Journey(10:05) – The Human Side of AI Deployment(12:29) – Hiring AI Coworkers: Internship to Full-Time(16:33) – Managing a Blended Human-AI Workforce(21:54) – HR's Role and Navigating Workforce Change(26:29) – Defining Workforce Intelligence and the WI Score(30:58) – Overcoming Employee Fears and Building Trust(37:43) – Leadership Activation and Empathy in the Age of AI(53:00) – Final Reflections and The Humanity TestKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, AI, Artificial Intelligence, AI Transformation, Workplace Intelligence, People-First Leadership, Human-Centric Organizations, AI Adoption, Digital Coworkers, Organizational Change, Employment Disruption, Job Automation, Human Resources (HR), Talent Management, Growth Mindset, Trust in Leadership, Empathy in Business, AI Onboarding, Blended Workforce, WI score, Transparency in AI, Disruption, Future of Work, Human-AI Collaboration, Managing AI Anxiety, CEO Success

What you'll learn in this episode Why your business should always have backup talent ready The 3 types of talent: potential, emerging, and proven Why proven talent, though costly, is worth the investment How to evaluate a candidate's record of success The cultural fit questions to ask in every interview Why “if it's not a hell yes, it's not a yes” is the golden rule in hiring To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:GET THE BOOK! Teach to Sell : Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do InsteadWebsite: No Broke MonthsPodcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople PodcastInstagram: @donrochonxFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NoBrokeMonths/Facebook: Dan RochonLinkedIn: Dan Rochon

What if AI isn't replacing jobs, but quietly redesigning the tasks inside them?In the most recent HR Leaders Podcast episode, I had an important conversation with Sultan Murad Saidov, Former CEO / Founder and Investor at Beamery. He explains why task intelligence could become critical to workforce planning, how AI is changing the work inside existing roles, and why deciding what gets automated should become an HR question, not just a technology question.Drawing on more than a decade of building Beamery and working at the intersection of AI, skills and workforce data, Sultan explains why skills alone are no longer enough to understand where work is heading.5 things you'll learn from this episode:Why looking at tasks instead of job titles changes how leaders understand AI's impact on workThe research Sultan references suggesting 75% of jobs may need redesign because of AI augmentationHow digital twin teams could help leaders model workforce decisions before making themWhy reducing junior roles may create a long-term talent and career pipeline problemWhy Sultan believes HR and technology teams should jointly lead the redesign of work

Constant tech shifts and viral noise are quietly exhausting your workforce and killing critical thinking.In the latest HR Leaders Podcast episode, I spoke with Laura Maffucci, Head of HR at Globalization Partners. She explains why HR cannot rely on corporate spin, unvetted AI add-ons, or forced office returns during times of rapid change.Most organizations do not lack technology tools. They lack transparent communication, psychological safety, and a clear process for building learning agility. And even when tools are enabled, a harder question remains:Are you actually solving an operational problem, or just adding tool overload?5 things you'll learn from this episode:The unconventional quarterly award designed to celebrate smart operational failuresThe quiet credibility trap behind performative return-to-office mandatesThe hidden data flaw causing 70–80% of enterprise AI bots to give bad adviceThe three core human traits rendering static technical skills obsoleteA simple peer-led initiative driving AI adoption far better than formal trainingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the self-doubt holding you back isn't proof of failure, but evidence of growth?In the most recent HR Leaders Podcast episode, I had an important conversation with Maharukh Dalal, founder of The Career Accelerator for Women by Maharukh Dalal. She explains how senior leaders can overcome imposter syndrome by closing the internal identity gap, reframing self-doubt into a signal of growth, and shifting self-perception to drive executive execution.Drawing on two decades of corporate leadership across finance and hospitality, Dalal explains how mindset precedes execution. This conversation offers senior HR and business leaders a clear playbook for mastering the mental side of executive performance.5 things you'll learn from this episode:The psychological gap that stops capable leaders from taking actionA simple two-word shift that instantly turns daily dread into agency What a 1980 university experiment reveals about how people actually perceive you The advice Rafael Nadal's coach gave him during his worst slump that applies to executives Why relying purely on willpower and discipline eventually fails even top performers

AI could influence 90% of jobs. David Lloyd says AI literacy is still only around 38%.That gap is where many enterprise AI strategies begin to break.In the latest HR Leaders Podcast episode, I spoke with David Lloyd, SVP Platform Engineering & Chief AI Officer at Dayforce. He explains why HR cannot wait until the end of an AI transformation to address skills, trust and organisational change.Most organisations do not lack AI ideas. They lack trusted data, safe environments and a clear process for deciding which ideas deserve to scale.And even when an experiment works, a harder question remains:Can it scale from one employee to 5,000?5 things you'll learn from this episode:Why three to six months is too long to judge an AI pilotThe three questions that decide whether an AI idea moves forwardWhat is really driving the rise of shadow AIWhy adding AI across a fragmented HR stack creates more chaosHow a three-person governance team can approve ideas in under five days

In this episode, we sit down with DeeAnn Palin, founder and CEO of On Point Business Solutions, to explore how talent strategy can either drain a business or become a powerful driver of growth. Known as the CEO Whisperer, DeeAnn has spent more than 20 years in executive leadership and over a decade helping founder-led companies avoid costly talent mistakes, improve EBITDA, and prepare for strategic growth and transition. Drawing on her experience leading operations, turnarounds, and transformational growth initiatives, DeeAnn shares why HR is often misunderstood as an expense instead of being leveraged as a strategic business asset. During our time together, we discuss:Why traditional HR is often viewed as a cost center—and how that mindset limits growthThe concept of the “Million Dollar Mistake” and how hidden talent problems quietly erode profitabilityThe role HR should play in helping CEOs achieve long-term growth objectivesHow modern assessment tools and AI can improve leadership effectiveness, team performance, and hiring decisionsWhy organizations should rethink their total rewards strategy rather than focusing solely on compensationHow to solve talent gaps without overspending on the wrong benefits, incentives, or hiresA real-world case study showing how one organization transformed culture, performance, and financial outcomes through strategic talent managementThe importance of Jim Collins' Hedgehog Concept in aligning talent with organizational successThis episode provides practical insights for leaders who want to unlock hidden value in their workforce and build people systems that accelerate business growth.To learn more from DeeAnn visit www.onptbiz.com Request a business X-ray assessmentLearn more about Aptiv Index and strategic talent solutionsConnect with the On Point Business Solutions team

Why do enterprise skills programs always look great on paper, but break down the moment real work happens?In the most recent HR Leaders Podcast episode, I had an inspiring conversation with Josh Newman, VP of Skills and Talent Readiness at ServiceNow.He explains why organisations must shift away from perfectionist data collection and embrace good-enough skills capture paired with real-world talent readiness.By moving training out of LMS silos and leveraging ambient data signals alongside AI simulation playgrounds, ServiceNow tracks true human capabilities in real time while keeping human judgment at the centre of workforce strategy.5 things you'll learn from this episode:Why traditional skills-based models fail and how to move past perfectionist data gatheringHow Talent Signature captures ambient data signals from daily work to track capability growthHow SimStudio simulation playgrounds replace course completion certificates with real-time practiceThe key difference between basic AI adoption and true behaviour absorption that drives business ROIHow building psychological safety around AI tools directly boosts employee performance and sales quota attainmentSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us Fan MailSend us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Tarra Stubbins, an entrepreneur with a remarkable comeback story. After witnessing her thriving business plummet from $750,000 to just $25,000 a month—accompanied by foreclosure fears—Tarra has risen to lead two multimillion-dollar companies. With a decade of experience supporting icons like Drake, Lady Gaga, and Elon Musk, Tarra now dedicates her expertise to helping athletes and creators scale their businesses without burnout.Join us as Tarra shares her journey from personal assistant to business owner, detailing the lessons learned from her initial failures and the importance of building a solid foundation. She discusses the critical systems that elite performers understand, the nuances of goal-setting, and the significance of infrastructure over hustle in achieving sustainable success.Listeners will gain insights into the mindset of high achievers and the importance of being adaptable in the face of challenges. Tarra also introduces her latest venture, Wildcard, a talent incubator designed to support untapped talent in the creative industry, emphasizing her commitment to giving back and fostering new voices.What You'll Learn in This Episode:- The pivotal moments that led to Tarra's business transformation- Key differences between elite performers and the average entrepreneur- The essential systems needed for sustainable growth- The importance of infrastructure in business success- Insights into Tarra's upcoming projects and her vision for WildcardFor more information on Tarra Stubbins and her work, visit Take It Easy Group and follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay updated on her journey and insights.www.takeiteasygroup.comSupport the show

Every company wants to become AI-native. But who is preparing the workforce for what comes next?In the most recent HR Leaders Podcast episode, I had an important conversation with Bijal Shah, CEO & Board Director at Guild.She explains why becoming AI-native is not simply a technology upgrade. It requires employers, governments and learning institutions to rethink how people gain skills, build careers and participate in the future economy.5 things you'll learn from this episode:How organisations can make the AI-native transition without leaving their workforce behindWhy Bijal believes 95% of companies still need to make this leapWhat makes workforce transformation a collective action problemHow critical thinking, judgement and curiosity separate useful AI from “slop”Where automation creates an advantage, and where human connection must remainSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We spend all our time fixing business workflows, so why is HRs own workflow still broken?In the most recent HR Leaders Podcast episode, I had an inspiring conversation with Jeffrey Schmitz, Former Chief People Officer at Zebra Technologies.He explains how his team successfully restructured their entire HR operating model by separating daily tactical operations from long-term talent strategy. By replacing fragmented, manual support with a centralised service hub and self-service workflows, Zebra built a scalable foundation for digital transformation while keeping culture at the centre.5 things you'll learn from this episode:The structural model shift that allowed Zebra to transition from 60 HR Business Partners down to 8 The simple "start at the centre" rule that turned daily support tickets into an operational data goldmine The non-negotiable tech stack foundation HR teams must build before attempting to deploy AI tools The single candidate trait Zebra looks for that matters far more than rare technical AI expertise The culture stewardship strategy Zebra used to navigate a massive M&A carve-out and hybrid work shift

Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, but successful organizations know that technology alone isn't enough. Recorded live at World Workplace Europe, Dr. Matt Tucker sits down with Jessica Schmidt, Future of Work Strategy Lead at EY, to discuss how leaders can prepare their workforce for the future of work. Together, they explore evolving talent expectations, AI leadership, workplace strategy and why organizations must balance technology, physical workplaces and human behavior to create lasting business value. They also discuss the skills leaders need, why only a small percentage of organizations are realizing measurable returns from AI investments and what facility managers can do to prepare for the future.  Timestamps: 0:00 - Why only 28% of companies see business value from AI 1:18 - Introduction to Jessica Schmidt and the future of work 3:35 - The biggest forces reshaping today's workplace 5:42 - Why generational stereotypes miss the bigger picture 6:28 - Changing talent expectations and workplace sustainability 8:18 - Bricks, bytes and behaviors explained 10:06 - Why people matter more than technology 12:34 - Leading AI transformation in facility management 14:15 - World Workplace 2026 15:00 - What an AI-enabled organization really looks like 16:10 - The leadership framework: Tool set, skill set and mindset 17:12 - Building AI skills across your workforce 18:03 - Why mindset is the biggest leadership challenge 19:20 - Helping employees embrace AI instead of fearing it 20:18 - Why most AI investments fail to deliver value 21:10 - From AI assistants to AI agents 22:22 - Preparing the next generation of FM professionals 23:48 - The Great Resignation and evolving employee expectations 25:00 - Why learning is becoming a competitive advantage 26:15 - How organizations can attract and retain top talent 26:52 - Closing remarks Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org

The equipment rental industry has no shortage of demand, capital or equipment. Increasingly, the greatest constraint on growth is people.In this episode, Michael is joined by Melissa Hanna, Vice President of Talent Management at United Rentals, to discuss how rental businesses can attract, develop and retain the workforce needed to support the industry's continued growth.Melissa reflects on her career across Hertz, Herc Rentals and United Rentals, sharing how mentors, advocates and hands-on experience shaped her approach to leadership and talent development. She explains why workforce development cannot be treated as a temporary challenge or simply an HR responsibility—it must be embedded into the broader business strategy.The conversation explores the importance of introducing young people to rental careers earlier, hiring for curiosity and adaptability rather than relying solely on résumés, and creating visible career paths for employees across operations, sales, driving and technical roles.Melissa also discusses United Rentals' approach to development through the 70-20-10 model, where 70% of learning comes from on-the-job experience, 20% from mentoring and relationships, and 10% from formal training.They also examine the role of culture in employee retention, the importance of strong onboarding, how smaller rental businesses can develop people without large training budgets, and how companies can preserve culture during acquisitions.Melissa's message is clear: the rental industry offers almost limitless career opportunities for people who are willing to learn, adapt, work hard and invest in relationships.This episode is essential listening for rental leaders, HR professionals and anyone focused on building the next generation of talent within the industry.

HR fixes everyone else's workflows, but who fixes HR's?In the most recent HR Leaders Podcast episode, I had an inspiring conversation with Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer at Remote.She explains how her team successfully operates across 85 countries without traditional office mandates or endless meetings. By replacing friction with clear asynchronous documentation, Remote maintains connection and speed at scale.5 things you'll learn from this episode:Integrating AI into performance management and HR operationsBuilding trust and culture in fully remote asynchronous teamsTransitioning HR from lagging reporting to predictive indicatorsDeveloping leadership pillars and manager capabilitiesPrioritizing human power skills and process mapping in tech adoption

Many HR teams struggle to move beyond transactional order-taking. Ty Beasley, Chief Talent Officer at RSM US LLP, shares how grounding HR in financial realities transformed his team into trusted strategic advisors. Through the Drive Peak Performance framework, RSM redesigned performance advisor training and held partners directly accountable for the talent experience. This strategy replaces rigid office mandates with physical agility to support individual employee growth. This episode provides a concise roadmap for connecting talent strategy directly to business growth. It shows leaders how to build a stronger HR function that drives measurable business outcomes.

Employee benefits can be the second-biggest people cost, yet many global organisations cannot clearly see what they offer, what they spend, or what value each provider delivers.In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Chris Bruce, CEO and Co-Founder at Origin. He explains why fragmented policies, spreadsheets, and local systems have kept benefits out of strategic business conversations.

AI is changing work faster than most people expect.The real question isn't whether jobs will change, but whether employees and leaders are prepared to adapt. In this episode, Jacob Morgan, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and Founder of Future Of Work Leaders, explains why employee experience must evolve and what organisations can do to stay ahead.Jacob introduces the Eight Laws of Employee Experience, showing how organisations can return to the fundamentals while adapting for an AI-driven future. He explores why leaders must balance empathy with accountability, create cultures where difficult conversations drive innovation, and invest in internal mobility rather than leaving employees uncertain about what's next.For HR and business leaders, this conversation is a reminder that AI doesn't remove the need for great leadership, it raises the standard. Whether you're redesigning employee experience, preparing your workforce for AI, or helping people take ownership of their careers, this episode offers practical ideas for building organisations that are ready for what's next.

In this episode of Tap'd Talks HR, Anthony speaks with Tania Lennon, specialist in talent management in an AI-enhanced world and former leader of the IMD Strategic Talent Lab, about her new book, Future-Ready Talent. Tania explains why talent has become one of the biggest concerns for business and HR leaders, and why traditional approaches to talent management are no longer sufficient in a rapidly changing world. The conversation explores why organisations need to move beyond matching people to today's roles and instead focus on their ability to keep learning, adapt and create value in the future. Tania introduces three capabilities that define future-ready talent: reach, range and readiness. Anthony and Tania also discuss how AI is changing what organisations value, how talent should be assessed and how data can uncover potential that traditional methods may overlook.

Good morning! Start your day with Go Birds! Daily, a daily Eagles podcast giving you everything you need to know for July 17th. In today's episode Eliot Shorr-Parks gives his thoughts on how the Eagles might handle a LeBron James signing compared to how the Sixers would handle it. Plus, Tom Brady sounds like Jalen Hurts and Charles Barkley gives his take on AJ Brown bring traded. Presented by Ashley, America's number one furniture and mattress store. Join Go Birds! Insiders!, a new community for all the #RealOnes, #AutoDownloaders and Daily listeners to hang out, talk Eagles and enjoy exclusive Eagles content! CLICK HERE to join.

Good morning! Start your day with Go Birds! Daily, a daily Eagles podcast giving you everything you need to know for July 17th. In today's episode Eliot Shorr-Parks gives his thoughts on how the Eagles might handle a LeBron James signing compared to how the Sixers would handle it. Plus, Tom Brady sounds like Jalen Hurts and Charles Barkley gives his take on AJ Brown bring traded. Presented by Ashley, America's number one furniture and mattress store. Join Go Birds! Insiders!, a new community for all the #RealOnes, #AutoDownloaders and Daily listeners to hang out, talk Eagles and enjoy exclusive Eagles content! CLICK HERE to join.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, Mechelle Monroe, former Global Chief People Officer for WPP Open X, Team Coca-Cola at WPP, explores how people leaders can support others without losing touch with what they need themselves.Mechelle breaks emotional resilience into practical habits, including scheduled emotional maintenance, conscious breathing, honest self-talk, protected meals, movement, reflection, and knowing when to say no. She also explains how naming an emotion, questioning the story behind it, and creating a clear end to the working day can stop difficult moments from following leaders home.As work becomes faster and more technical, emotional intelligence and emotional resilience become more valuable, not less. For leaders carrying other people's stress, the real question is not how much more they can absorb, but whether they have built the capacity to pause, recover, and keep showing up well.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Jennifer M. Bales, Chief Human Resources Officer at Shearwater Health, to unpack how HR leaders can build culture, scale talent, and use AI without losing the human behind the work.Jennifer shares how Shearwater Health is connecting values, frontline employees, clinical talent, leadership development, engagement data, and employee storytelling across the US, India, and the Philippines. With more than 5,000 employees in the Philippines alone, she explains why building one shared culture takes more than posters, surveys, or slogans.Most importantly, Jennifer explains why the future of healthcare work is not about replacing people with technology. It is about helping clinicians work at the top of their license, reducing administrative burden, strengthening leadership capability, and remembering that behind every metric is a real person.

AI isn't just speeding up recruiting; it's actually forcing companies to redesign work itself, blending human judgment with agentic execution across hiring, mobility, and skills development. As a result, most conversations these days are about AI in the enterprise centre on software development and engineering. Recruiting, hiring, and talent management get far less attention, but they may be where AI's impact is most immediate.In a recent episode of Tech Transformed, host Dana Gardner spoke with Meghna Punhani, Chief People Officer at Eightfold AI, about how organisations are rethinking talent acquisition, workforce planning, and employee development in an AI-driven world. Meghna Punhani's perspective is shaped by nearly two decades at Google, a stint leading employee experience at Palo Alto Networks, and her current dual role at Eightfold AI, where she both leads the people function and helps build the product her team relies on. That vantage point gives her a practical, ground-level view of what works and what doesn't when AI meets HR.Reimagining the Talent Lifecycle with AI Punhani's central argument is that most legacy HR systems were designed for a different purpose, one that has evolved as work itself has changed and the workforce now includes AI agents alongside people. Simply bolting automation onto existing processes, she argues, isn't enough. Organisations that are succeeding are the ones re-engineering roles, workflows, and organisational structures from the ground up, treating this as an operating-model shift rather than an IT upgrade.This shift touches the entire talent lifecycle, from how companies find candidates and evaluate skills instead of just job titles to how they support internal mobility. Punhani points out that skills now have a much shorter shelf life than in the past, which means static job descriptions are giving way to dynamic, skills-based decision-making. AI, she says, helps surface pathways for employees that traditional resumes and titles would never reveal, including her own nontraditional route into HR leadership.How AI Is Reshaping Workforce Strategy Trust is the recurring theme throughout the discussion. Punhani is candid that employees often fear AI-driven decisions, especially around jobs and evaluations. Her approach is focused on transparency first. When Eightfold rolled out digital twins internally, employees were uneasy until leadership explained how the technology worked and used it themselves, which helped build organisation-wide confidence.That same principle shows up in Eightfold's own hiring practice. One example is the company's campus recruiting programme in India, where its AI interviewer conducted roughly 90 per cent of interviews. This enabled recruiting to scale from around eight or 10 university partners to more than 150, and from approximately 5,000 applications to 15,000, without pulling engineers away from their day-to-day duties.Time-to-offer dropped from around six weeks to as little as four days in some technical roles, largely because interviews could happen around the clock rather than around a recruiter's or hiring manager's schedule. Beyond recruiting, Eightfold's internal initiative, nicknamed Project Andromeda, applies the same re-engineering approach across sales and finance, reportedly reclaiming thousands of employee hours through redesigned, agent-assisted workflows.AI and the Future of TalentLooking ahead, Punhani doesn't frame AI as a threat to human contribution, but she frames it as an amplifier of it. As tools become more accessible across every function, she believes the people who will succeed won't be the ones who know the most facts, since AI can answer those questions. Instead, it will be the people who ask better questions, orchestrate multiple AI agents, and apply judgment where the right answer isn't obvious.For HR leaders specifically, Punhani's advice is to claim a seat at the table now, rather than letting AI adoption happen without a people-first lens. This means learning the technology firsthand, demonstrating its value to non-technical teams, and partnering closely with CTOs and CIOs to shape decisions jointly. Her advice for individuals entering this shifting job market is similarly grounded: focus on learning agility over any single technical skill, since the skills in demand today may look different within months.Future of AI in Talent ManagementAcross the conversation, Punhani returns to one idea, and that is AI in talent management isn't primarily a technology problem; it's a leadership and trust problem. Organisations that treat it that way, redesigning work with both humans and agents in mind, are the ones seeing measurable gains in speed, candidate experience, and internal mobility.For HR leaders exploring AI adoption, the takeaway from this episode is to start before you feel ready, build trust through transparency, and let AI handle evaluation and execution so people can focus on judgment, empathy, and connecting the dots across the organisation. If you would like to find out more, visit eightfold.ai or connect with Meghna Punhani on LinkedIn.TakeawaysAI's impact on talent acquisition and management.Reengineering work processes with AI.Building trust and transparency in AI systems.Skills-based internal mobility and workforce planning.AI-driven candidate evaluation and employee development.Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI in Talent Management02:59 Understanding AI's Role in Talent Acquisition06:07 AI's Impact on Workforce Planning and Skills Development10:02 Building Trust in AI for Hiring Processes13:04 Internal Use of AI at Eightfold AI18:58 Measuring ROI from AI in Talent Acquisition25:02 Enhancing Candidate Experience with AI29:53 Future Directions for AI in Talent Management

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Lisa Yankie, Chief HR Officer at Odyssey Logistics, to unpack why the future of HR is not just about AI, technology, or transformation. It is about solving the right problems with the right people in the room.Lisa shares how her own journey, from humble beginnings to leadership across manufacturing, financial services, and mid-sized companies, shaped the way she leads today. Her experience gave her a broader lens on business, resilience, empathy, courage, and the value of taking chances when others open the door.Most importantly, Lisa explains why HR must stop acting like an afterthought. In her words, human capital is the business. As AI changes work, HR has a bigger role to play as the glue across functions, the challenger of old assumptions, and the function that helps organizations stay human while moving faster.

How do you tell the difference between AI that's genuinely transforming HR and AI that's just a slide in a vendor deck? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David Green is joined by Parker Mitchell, Founder and CEO of Valence, the team behind the AI coaching platform Nadia, to discuss what it really takes for HR to prove value in an increasingly crowded AI market. Join them, as they discuss: How to separate genuine AI capability from marketing claims in an increasingly crowded marketWhy AI budgets are increasingly coming from the C-suite rather than HR, and what that means for how HR shows up in these conversationsWhat CHROs should be asking before choosing between an AI-native provider and a legacy platform with bolted-on AI featuresHow the best people analytics teams are proving ROI from AI coaching, beyond adoption metricsWhat it looks like to make performance management continuous rather than a once or twice-a-year processWhy frontline and operational workers need a different approach to AI coaching than knowledge workersValence's recent partnership with Microsoft and what it signals about where AI coaching is heading This episode is sponsored by Valence. Nadia, Valence's AI coaching platform, connects talent strategy to the work employees are actually doing — offering coaching from the frontline to the boardroom, and surfacing organisational insights that weren't visible before. As the most widely deployed coach in the Fortune 500, Nadia is already helping global leaders like Nestlé, Delta, CVS, and Kraft Heinz transform talent at scale. Learn more at valence.co/insight222 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Ciara Harrington (Barry), Chief People Officer at Skillsoft, to unpack why the shift from jobs to skills is finally becoming real.Ciara explains why HR can no longer rely only on job architecture, job descriptions, and traditional role design. As AI agents enter the workforce, leaders need to think differently about the unit of work, what skills are needed, and whether that work should be done by a human, an agent, or a combination of both.Most importantly, Ciara shares how Skillsoft is making skills practical inside the business, from leadership skills and hiring decisions, to nine-box talent reviews, performance conversations, AI adoption, and helping leaders move faster without waiting for the perfect system.

We say we want leaders who listen. But if we're being honest, a lot of what we call "listening" is really just waiting for our turn to respond. Or scanning the engagement survey results and then, do nothing. Or hosting an overly scripted town hall. Or asking employees for feedback once a year, checking the box, and moving on. But real listening? That requires better questions. Simpler questions. Braver questions. Questions like: What's not working? Where are you stuck? What are we pretending not to see? And maybe the most important one for senior leaders to ask themselves: How did we get these results in the first place? My special guest today is Dr. Adam Hickman, VP of Employee Development, Talent Management, and HRIS with Partners / The Walt Disney Company, and he's simplifying how to listen like a (real) leader. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: Why he believes we don't actually have a listening problem, we have a question problem. Why leaders often avoid asking the most basic questions, even when those questions could reveal what's really broken at work. What to do after your engagement survey results come in, so feedback turns into action instead of another forgotten report. The art of asking great questions, and why leaders should not always start with the end in mind. And how to reframe engagement as a real performance driver, while also letting go of the myth that people need to show up as all-star workers every single day. Q: Are you wanting to listen like a (real) leader? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/426-how-to-listen-like-a-real-leader---with-dr-adam-hickman

On this episode of Coaching Call, Sifu Rafael welcomes Yosi Kossowsky, MCEC, PCC, for a thought provoking conversation on leadership, communication, team performance, and creating lasting impact.With more than 30 years of multinational corporate experience and 17 years as a professional coach, Yosi has helped leaders and organizations transform the way they think, communicate, and lead. His unique journey from Chief Technology Officer and Senior Director of Talent Management to executive coach gives him a rare ability to combine analytical thinking with a deep understanding of people.Yosi specializes in helping leaders gain strategic clarity, improve communication, strengthen team dynamics, and build cultures where people and performance thrive together. His practical coaching approach empowers individuals to navigate change, prevent burnout, lead through uncertainty, and align professional success with personal fulfillment.Whether you're leading a business, managing a growing team, or striving to become a more intentional leader, this conversation will provide valuable insights you can apply immediately.Join us as we explore what it really takes to lead with purpose, communicate with confidence, and inspire others to perform at their highest level.Watch on YouTube and subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/@sifurafaeltv?sub_confirmation=1Sifu Rafael is a master instructor and the founder of Speaking Prowess, where he combines expertise in communication and leadership to help individuals unlock their full potential. As a professional speaker, solutions expert, and executive coach, Sifu Rafael leverages years of experience to guide clients toward their goals with clarity, purpose, and strategic insight. His mission is to make the art of effective communication accessible to all, empowering personal and professional growth. Sifu Rafael's unwavering dedication to improving communication skills has earned him a reputation as a trusted mentor and coach. His vision is clear: to enhance communication worldwide, one individual at a time.This episode is brought to you by Sifu's Mind Body Method, a lifestyle transformation that blends movement, mindset, nutrition, hydration, fasting, journaling, and faith. Learn more at sifumethod.comThat's where connecting with Sifu Rafael matters.Through Speaking Prowess and Sifu's Mind Body Method, Sifu Rafael helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts refine their message, command a room, and step onto more stages with clarity and confidence. From podcasts and live shows to keynote stages and curated experiences, Sifu Rafael helps people get seen, heard, and positioned as trusted voices in their industry while sharpening their speaking skills along the way.If you know you're meant to speak, lead, and impact at a higher level, this conversation is your invitation.Visit sifurafael.com to connect, explore speaking opportunities, and start positioning yourself for more stages, stronger presence, and real influence.#coachingcall #sifurafael #leadership #executivecoaching #teamperformance #communication #leadershipdevelopment #personalgrowth #speakingprowess #coaching

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Björn Axelsson, EVP and CHRO at Sandvik, to unpack how one of Sweden's largest industrial technology companies is changing the way people think about mining, manufacturing, AI, sustainability, and future talent.Björn explains why mining is one of the most misunderstood industries in the talent market. Many people still picture it as old-fashioned, unsafe, or disconnected from the future, when in reality Sandvik has been working with autonomous vehicles, connected fleets, electrified equipment, digital mining, software, and AI-powered solutions for years.Most importantly, Björn shares how Sandvik is building a future-ready workforce by investing in STEM talent, early careers, mining academies, global mobility, employee-led storytelling, AI adoption, and local communities, all while helping customers access the minerals needed for the green transition.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Arun Serikar, VP, HR Technology, Digital Platforms & AI Innovation, Corp Functions at Schneider Electric, to unpack what it really takes to simplify HR technology, scale AI, and build a better employee experience across a global enterprise.Arun shares how Schneider Electric went from 545 HR applications to 303, reducing tech debt, breaking regional silos, and building stronger governance around the tools, data, and platforms used across the business. He explains why employees are not looking for the “best system”, they are looking for fewer systems that actually work together.Most importantly, Arun breaks down how Schneider Electric is using AI to move HR from a back-office function to an intelligence layer for the enterprise, from internal chatbots and ticket reduction, to performance review AI assistance, agentic workflows, and a future where employees can complete tasks without jumping between systems.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Marcus Collins, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and Professor at University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, to unpack why culture is the most powerful force shaping human behavior, inside and outside organizations.Marcus explains why most companies misunderstand culture by reducing it to slogans, rituals, values, or “how we do things around here.” In reality, culture starts with how people think, what they believe, how they make meaning, and what behaviors those shared beliefs produce.Most importantly, he reveals why the future of work will not be won by technology alone. It will be won by organizations that understand the culture of work, align the front stage and backstage of the business, and build environments where people are truly connected to the beliefs, behaviors, and conviction behind the work.

This is an encore podcast presentation of WorkTrends previously aired on December 5th, 2025. Your people data is telling you something. Are you listening? In this #WorkTrends episode, we dig into how people analytics is reshaping HR and talent management — from turning raw workforce data into strategic insights, to using AI agents to make faster, smarter people decisions. Whether you're focused on engagement, retention, or performance, this conversation will change how you think about the numbers behind your team.

Welcome to Work in Progress with Chris and Keyanna, your weekly workplace news hit, but with less corporate waffle, more real talk, and the occasional “wait… are we allowed to say that?” moment.All in under 10 minutes.No jargon. No doom-mongering. No pretending everything is fine when clearly… it is not.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Kelly Costanza, Chief People Officer at CAVA, to unpack how one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands is turning culture, hospitality, and frontline careers into a real business advantage.Kelly shares why culture cannot just be a word on a wall. At CAVA, culture is operationalized through values, competencies, recognition, career pathways, frontline listening, stock grants, mental health benefits, and leadership rituals that make the employee experience feel just as intentional as the guest experience.Most importantly, Kelly explains how CAVA is building a place where people can have a career, not just a job, from hourly team members growing into general managers, to leaders staying connected to the restaurants through shoulder-to-shoulder service, town halls, and practical feedback from the frontline.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Anju Choudhary, Chief People Officer at Xoxoday, to unpack why burnout is not just a wellbeing problem, but a work design and change design problem.Anju explains why organizations often treat burnout as an individual resilience issue, when the real problem is often the way teams are overloaded with unclear priorities, constant change, weak manager support, and poor recognition systems. She shares why leaders need to stop rewarding unsustainable hustle and start designing cultures where people can perform, grow, and recover without burning out.Most importantly, Anju breaks down the practical ways HR leaders can reduce burnout, build trust, and create healthier performance cultures, from clearer feedback and better change management, to manager enablement, recognition, AI coaching, team playbooks, and reward strategies that actually connect to the lived employee experience.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Allwyn Dsilva, VP HR & Global Head of L&D, Future of Work & Business HR at Tata Communications, to unpack why the future of learning must be built around business outcomes, skills, internal mobility, and AI-enabled career growth.Allwyn shares how Tata Communications moved beyond disconnected learning platforms and traditional course libraries to build a more connected ecosystem, linking skills, career aspirations, hiring, learning, coaching conversations, and AI-powered recommendations into one joined-up employee experience.Most importantly, he explains why learning teams must stop leading with the beauty of their programs and start proving behavior change, business impact, and real outcomes. From AI literacy and dark network operations to internal hiring, AI interview practice, and skills-based career pathways, this episode shows what it looks like when L&D becomes a true business engine.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Khadija Ben Hammada, Member of the Executive Board and Chief People Officer at Merck Group, to unpack how HR can lead through AI transformation without losing the human heart of the organization.Khadija shares why leaders cannot run global organizations from an ivory tower, and why being close to employees on the ground creates the trust, safety, and pride people need to speak up. She explains how field visits, human connection, and a strong sense of global community help Merck stay united across regions, even as the world outside becomes more fragmented.Most importantly, she breaks down how Merck is building AI capability across the business, from AI literacy for everyone, to leader upskilling, internal AI tools, hackathons, flagship use cases, and HR agents that can improve employee experience at scale. Through it all, Khadija is clear: AI should take tasks, not humanity, and HR must stay at the intersection of business, technology, and empathy.

In this episode of our On The Road series, we sit down with Amy Coleman, Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer at Microsoft, to explore how leaders can scale AI transformation without losing the human connection at the center of work.Amy reflects on stepping into the Chief People Officer role at Microsoft, the humility of becoming a beginner again, and why leaders do not need to pretend they have all the answers in moments of uncertainty. What matters is being honest, learning fast, and bringing people with you.Her message is clear: AI and humans cannot be separated. As work changes, HR leaders have to help people understand what is shifting, what still matters, and how AI can unlock more creativity, curiosity, innovation, and human potential.

In this episode of our On The Road series, we sit down with Laura Mattimore and Lucia Suarez from Procter & Gamble to explore how one of the world's most iconic companies is redesigning talent for the AI era.Laura leads global talent across P&G's enterprise talent systems, including hiring, learning, leadership development, workforce planning, and talent strategy. Lucia leads talent development, talent management, analytics, insights, employee experience, and transformation within that broader talent agenda.Their message is clear: AI is not just a technology shift. It is a work, culture, skills, and employee experience shift. For P&G, the opportunity is not to replace the human, but to build around human plus AI, with HR playing a central role in redesigning how work gets done.

In this episode, Carole Bennett, Vice President of Talent Management and Development at Sutter Health, joins the podcast to discuss using multiple learning modalities to improve accessibility and professional development across the workforce. She shares the benefits of programs like LinkedIn Learning and how Sutter Health is expanding executive development to support future healthcare leaders.

Many of our clients are playing with Claude, building things, and telling us about their amazing new innovations. But there's a strange misconception out there – the idea that you can just “buy an Agent” and turn it on immediately. AI doesn't quite work this way. These systems “become you” – which means you have to train, maintain, tune, and continuously monitor them. Here's the story for a quick listen. Here is a brief background on “managing and maintaining” AI agents. And remember, this is the power of AI – you want it to “learn” about your company!  But like a junior staff member, you have to coach and train it. Additional Information Introducing HR 2030: A Vision For Agentic Human Resources Agentic HR: Where Enterprise AI Is Going – Imperatives  Why AI Is A Massive Job-Creation Technology, Despite What You Think The Age of the Superworker (and Supermanager) Get Galileo: The AI Superagent for HR Chapters (00:00:00) - The Real Story of AI in Talent Management(00:07:27) - Onboarding the AI Learning Curve

In this episode of our On The Road series, we sit down with Kalifa Oliver, Ph.D. Senior Director of Technology - People Analytics at Lowe's Companies, Inc. to explore why HR needs to stop chasing AI tools and start solving the right business problems.Kalifa now sits in technology, not HR, leading teams across engineering, product, analytics, and people data. That gives her a very different view of what HR transformation actually requires.Her message is clear: AI is not magic. It will only be useful if HR asks better questions, understands the problem it is trying to solve, and stops adding technology on top of broken or unnecessary work.

In this episode of our On The Road series, we sit down with KeyAnna Schmiedl, Chief Human Experience Officer at Workhuman, to explore how organizations can identify future leaders before they are already in the obvious succession pipeline.KeyAnna shares how Workhuman's Future Leaders technology is helping companies spot the people giving off strong leadership signals across the business, including those who may not be visible through traditional talent reviews, manager nominations, or proximity to senior leaders.Her message is clear: the best future leaders are not always the most obvious names in the room. If HR can use better signals to see talent earlier, organizations can retain, develop, and invest in people before they walk out the door.

In this episode of our On The Road series, we sit down with Jennifer Reimert, SVP, Consulting Practice at Workhuman, to explore how organizations can make recognition reach the people who are often hardest to reach: frontline and deskless workers.Jennifer spent 20 years as an HR practitioner and total rewards leader before joining Workhuman. She was also a Workhuman customer back when the company was Globoforce, using recognition to help bring two merged companies together when culture, identity, and belonging were under real pressure.Her message is clear: recognition cannot only work for people at a desk. If most of the work that defines your culture happens on the floor, in the field, in hospitals, in plants, in stores, or across customer sites, then recognition has to meet people where they actually work.

In this episode of our On The Road series, we sit down with Ken Wechsler, SPHR, CCP, VP, Total Rewards at Akamai Technologies, to explore how AI is changing the conversation around rewards, recognition, performance, and the future of work.As a total rewards leader, Ken is now facing questions that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago: What is our AI strategy? What outcomes are we trying to drive? How will AI change productivity, performance, and how people are rewarded?His message is clear: AI skills alone should not automatically mean higher pay. The real question is whether AI helps people deliver better outcomes, raise performance, create more value, and help the business move forward.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast On The Road, we sit down with Eric Mosley, Founder and CEO at Workhuman to explore how recognition data, AI, and human insight are changing the way organizations identify their future leaders.Eric shares how Workhuman's new Future Leaders capability uses recognition data, performance data, and AI to identify the people most likely to rise into senior leadership roles years before they are officially promoted.And this is where it gets really interesting.Eric says the strongest signals are not coming from a traditional succession planning form. They are coming from the language people use about each other, the recognition moments that describe how work actually gets done, and the patterns that emerge across billions of human interactions.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast On The Road, we sit down with Jorge Quezada, MBA (He.Him.His), Vice President, Culture & Performance at Granite Construction, to unpack what happens when culture stops being treated as a soft initiative and starts being run as a business driver.Jorge explains why culture is the operating system of an organization, shaping how people think, act, interact, and bring the company's mission, vision, and values to life every day.He shares how Granite is updating its culture for the next 100 years by preserving what makes the company strong, diagnosing what needs to change, and creating the conditions for people to grow, adapt, and perform.Most importantly, Jorge reveals why the future of culture belongs to leaders who stop copying best practices from other companies and start understanding what their own people, business, and operating system actually need.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast On The Road, we sit down with Khalil Smith, VP, Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagement at Akamai Technologies, to unpack what it really takes to build a performance culture where people trust each other enough to speak up, challenge ideas, and grow.Khalil explains why culture is not what leaders say they want, but what the organization actually rewards, and why silence is often the clearest signal that trust has broken down.He shares how leaders can build stronger cultures by creating trust, encouraging healthy disagreement, aligning systems with values, and making recognition and feedback feel honest, specific, and useful.Most importantly, Khalil reveals why the future of culture belongs to organizations that close the gap between what they say and what they reward, creating environments where people can challenge respectfully, perform boldly, and speak up without fear.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast On The Road, we sit down with Peter Andrew Danzig, Senior Advisor, Foundation Culture at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, to unpack what psychological safety really means beyond the buzzword.Peter explains why psychological safety is not a checklist, policy, or one-time initiative, but a belief system that has to be co-created, practiced, and reinforced through everyday behavior.He shares how leaders can build safer spaces by embracing healthy friction, operationalizing empathy, and creating room for challenge, accountability, apology, repair, and growth.Most importantly, Peter reveals why the future of culture belongs to organizations that stop treating safety as comfort, and start building environments where more people can speak honestly, move through conflict, and still feel seen, heard, and valued.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast On The Road, we sit down with Julie A. Stone, Chief Learning Officer, Group VP at TTEC, to unpack what it really takes to bring AI into an organization without losing the human connection, trust, and coaching that actually drive performance.Julie explains why simply training people on AI tools is not enough, and how leaders must help employees understand where, when, and how AI fits into their actual work.She shares how TTEC is using AI to create more time for human coaching, improve guidance in the flow of work, measure coaching effectiveness, and give people safe spaces to practice, learn, and build confidence.Most importantly, Julie reveals why the future of AI transformation belongs to leaders who start with real business problems, bring people along transparently, and redesign work in a way that helps people perform better.